Resolutions of the Boston Town Meeting - September 13, 1768

Samuel Adams

These Resolutions of the Boston town meeting were made in response to British
troops being stationed in Boston. British troops were stationed there
in 1768 by General Thomas Gage who was charged with calming down colonists angry with Great Britain. Having a standing army in their own city outraged Bostonians. They published
this document, written by Samuel Adams, that declared their rights as
British citizens. They argue that they are being unconstitutionally
taxed and that having an army in their midst is unconstitutional as
well. The document calls for a convention of the entire province to
meet on September 22 to deal with the outrages against them. The
British occupation of Boston eventually led to the Boston Massacre, in
which several citizens were killed by British troops.

Resolutions of the Boston Town Meeting

The committee appointed to take the state of our public affairs into
consideration reported the following declaration and resolves:

Whereas it is the first principle in civil society, founded in nature and
reason, that no law of the society can be binding on any individual
without his consent, given by himself in person, or by his
representative of his own free election; and whereas in and by an Act
of the British Parliament passed in the first year of the reign of King
William and Queen Mary, of glorious and blessed memory, entitled an Act
declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and Settling the
Succession of the Crown; the Preamble of which Act is in these words,
viz: "Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of
diverse evil councillors, judges, and ministers employed by him, did
endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion, and the
laws and liberties of this kingdom," it is expressly among other things
declared, that the levying money for the use of the Crown, by pretence
of prerogative, without grant of Parliament for a longer time or in
other manner than the same is granted, is illegal. And whereas in the
third year of the reign of the same King William and Queen Mary, their
Majesties were graciously pleased by their royal charter to give and
grant to the inhabitants of his Majesty's province all the territory
therein described, to be held in free and common socage; and also to
ordain and grant to the said inhabitants certain rights, liberties, and
privileges therein expressly mentioned; among which it is granted,
established, and ordained, that all and every the subjects of them,
their heirs and successors, which shall go to inhabit within said
province and territory, and every of their children which shall happen
to be born there, or on the seas in going thither, or returning from
thence, shall have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and
natural subjects, within any of the dominions of them, their heirs and
successors, to all intents, purposes, and constructions whatever, as if
they and every of them were born within the realm of England.

And
whereas by the aforesaid Act of Parliament made in the first year of
the said King William and Queen Mary, all and singular the promises
contained therein, are claimed demanded, and insisted on as the
undoubted rights and liberties of the subjects born within the realm.

And
whereas the freeholders and other inhabitants of this town, the
metropolis of the province in said charter mentioned, do hold all the
rights and liberties therein contained to be sacred and inviolable - at
the same time publicly and solemnly acknowledging their firm and
unshaken allegiance to their alone and rightful sovereign King George
the third, the lawful successor of the said King William and Queen Mary
to the British throne.

Resolved, that the said freeholders and
other inhabitants of the Town of Boston will at the utmost peril of
their lives and fortunes take all legal and constitutional measures to
defend and maintain the person, family, crown, and dignity of our said
sovereign Lord George the third; and all and singular the rights,
liberties, privileges, and immunities granted in the said royal
charter, as well as those which are declared to be belonging to us as
British subjects by birthright, as all others therein specially
mentioned.

And whereas by the said royal charter it is specially
granted to the Great and General Court or assembly therein constituted,
to impose and levy proportionable and reasonable assessments, rates,
and taxes upon the estates and persons of all and every the proprietors
and inhabitants of said province or territory, for the service of the
king in the necessary defence and support of his government of this
province, and the protection and preservation of his subjects therein,
therefore:

Voted, as the opinion of this town, that the levying
money within this province for the use and service of the Crown in
other manner than the same is granted by the Great and General Court or
assembly of this province is in violation of the said royal charter;
and the same is also in violation of the undoubted natural rights of
subjects, declared in the aforesaid Act of Parliament, freely to give
and grant their own money for the service of the Crown, with their own
consent, in person, or by representatives of their own free election.

And
whereas in the aforesaid Act of Parliament it is declared that the
raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace,
unless it be with the consent of Parliament, is against law; it is the
opinion of this town that the said declaration is founded in the
indefeasible right of the subjects to be consulted, and to give their
free consent in person, or by representatives of their own free
election, to the raising and keeping a standing army among them; and
the inhabitants of this town being free subjects, have the same right
derived from nature and confirmed by the British constitution, as well
as the said royal charter; and therefore the raising or keeping a
standing army, without their consent in person or by representatives of
their own free election, would be an infringement of their natural,
constitutional, and charter rights; and the employing such army for the
enforcing of laws made without the consent of the people, in person, or
by their representatives, would be a grievance.

The aforegoing
report being divers times distinctly read, and considered by the town,
the question was put: whether the same shall be accepted and recorded,
and passed unanimously in the affirmative. Upon a motion made and
seconded, the following votes was unanimously passed, viz :

Whereas
by an Act of Parliament of the first of King William and Queen Mary, it
is declared that for the redress of all grievances, and for amending,
strengthening, and preserving the laws, parliaments ought to be held
frequently, and inasmuch as it is the opinion of this town that the
people labour under many intolerable grievances which unless speedily
redressed threaten the total destruction of our invaluable natural,
constitutional, and charter rights:

And furthermore as his
excellency the governor has declared himself unable, at the request of
this town, to call a general court, which is the assembly of the states
of this province for the redress of such grievances:

Voted, that
this town will now make choice of a suitable number of persons to act
for them as a committee in convention, with such as may be sent to join
them from the several towns in this province, in order that such
measures may be consulted and advised as his Majesty's service, and the
peace and safety of his subjects in this province may require;
whereupon the Hon. James Otis, Esq., the Hon. Thomas Cushinq, Esq., Mr.
Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, Esq., were appointed a committee for
the said purpose, the town hereafter to take into consideration what
recompense shall be made them for the service they may perform.

Voted,
that the selectmen be directed to write to the selectmen of the several
towns within this province informing them of the aforegoing vote, and
to propose that a convention be held, if they shall think proper, at
Faneuil Hall, in this town, on Tuesday the 22d day of September,
instant, at 10 o'clock before noon.